Radio handset

ABSTRACT

A radio handset for browsing the Internet comprising a browser application, which allows a user of the handset to access the internet via a first transceiver means arranged to send radio packets to and receive radio packets from an Internet gateway. The radio handset comprising further routing means arranged to route content supplied by the internet gateway via the first transceiver means to a registered application, the content having an identifier for identifying the type of application suitable for receiving the content and arranged to register applications by associating an application on registration with at least one identifier. A user interface is connected to the browser means having a display for displaying content and user input means. Also, an interface having a radio transceiver for coupling with an interface of an accessory device comprising a remote application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a radio handset for browsing theInternet. It particularly relates to increasing the functionality ofsuch a handset.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Mobile phones are becoming widely used as they provide security,mobility and flexibility. Recently the popularity of the Internet hasincreased among the general population. The Internet can be browsedusing a so-called browser application, which provides an easily usablevisual interface. It would be particularly desirable to combine the handheld nature of a mobile phone and its associated portability with theability to browse the Internet. The wireless application protocol (WAP)has been developed with this purpose in mind. It allows a radio handsetto communicate with a transceiver at an internet gateway and accessesthe internet through a radio link.

A desktop computer or the like, has until now been the standard devicefor accessing the World Wide Web. The computer generally has a display,a cursor control and selecting device such as a mouse and a keyboard.When using a device to browse the World Wide Web, the device exchangesinformation with the Internet gateway. The device acts as a client andthe Internet as a server. Typically content is downloaded from theinternet to the device to allow a browser application in the device todisplay one page having a number of items or icons which are ‘active’.Choosing and selecting an item or icon using the cursor control andselection device creates a ‘link’ to another defined page. The browserapplication requests this page from the Internet acting as server.Information downloaded from the Internet to the device allows thebrowser application to display the page, which has been linked. Thebrowser application mediates between the user and the Internet. It sendsrequests to the Internet and receives content therefrom.

The content received from the Internet may be instructions allowing thebrowser application to recreate a page with the correct links. It may,however, be content which cannot be processed by the browser applicationbut which requires a separate different application such as a viewer, anaudio application, etc. Typically these separate applications are notintegrated with the browser but are separate. A small device such as aradio handset can only register a limited number of such applications atany one time. The browser application routes received instructions tothe appropriate application if registered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be desirable to increase the number of applications to which auser of a radio handset with browser application has access.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided aradio handset for browsing the Internet comprising: a browserapplication which allows a user of the handset to access the internetvia a first transceiver means arranged to send radio packets to andreceive radio packets from an Internet gateway; routing means arrangedto route content supplied by the internet gateway via the firsttransceiver means to a registered application, the content having anidentifier for identifying the type of application suitable forreceiving the content and arranged to register applications byassociating an application on registration with at least one identifier;a user interface connected to the browser application having a displayfor displaying content and user input means; and an interface having aradio transceiver for coupling with an interface of an accessory devicecomprising a remote application, the interface being arranged to receivecontent routed to the remote application and to thereby increase thefunctionality of the handset, wherein the remote application isautomatically registered by the routing means in response to thecoupling of the handset and accessory device.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided asystem comprising a radio handset for browsing the internet anddownloading content therefrom and an accessory device for increasing thefunctionality of the radio handset in response to said content, thehandset comprising: a browser application which allows a user of thehandset to access the internet via first transceiver means arranged tosend radio packets to and receive radio packets from an internetgateway; routing means arranged to route content supplied by theinternet gateway via the first transceiver means to a registeredapplication, the content having an identifier for identifying the typeof application suitable for receiving the content and arranged toregister applications by associating an application on registration withat least one identifier; a user interface connected to the browserapplication having a screen for displaying content and user input means;an interface having a radio transceiver for coupling with an interfaceof an accessory device having a remote application, the interface beingarranged to receive content routed to the remote application and tothereby increase the functionality of the handset, wherein the remoteapplication is automatically registered by the routing means in responseto the coupling of the handset and accessory device.

The handset, by coupling with an accessory device, increases the rangeof content which can be downloaded from the internet for use by thehandset. The coupling increases the range of Internet related functionsto which a user of the handset has access.

The handset is hand portable. The handset may consequently have alimited input interface which makes it difficult to input complexinstructions for example to manually register applications. Theautomatic registration of applications provided by embodiments of theinvention overcome such difficulties.

According to embodiments of the invention the handset couples to anaccessory device having one or more remote applications therein.According to other embodiments of the invention the handset couples withmore than one accessory device, where each accessory device has at leastone remote application therein. Each of the remote applications can thusbe accessed by a user of the handset through the handset.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to understandhow the same may be brought into effect reference will now be made byway of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a radio handset and accessory device;

FIG. 3 illustrates a network for accessing the Internet;

FIG. 4 illustrates a radio handset having a browser; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a routing table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a hand-portable radio communications device,henceforth referred to as a terminal or radio handset 2. The terminal 2is small enough to be carried by hand and is preferably sized to fitinto a pocket of a jacket. The terminal communicates with otherterminals or devices using radio waves.

The terminal 2 has a user interface comprising, for input, a keypad 24having keys 24 a and a microphone 20 and, for output, a speaker 18 and adisplay 14. The size of keypad 24 and display 14 are necessarily limitedby the size of the terminal 2. The terminal 2 is controlled bycontroller 4 and is powered by battery 26. The controller 4 receivessignals from the microphone 20 and the keypad 24 and provides signals tothe display 14 and the speaker 18. The terminal 2 has an interface 34and a transceiver 3, which are used to communicate outside the terminal2. The interface 34 is connected to the controller via bus 32. Theinterface may include a transceiver for radio or infra red communicationand/or a port for direct electrical connection. The transceiver 3 is aradio frequency transceiver connected to an antenna 28 and controller 4.It is arranged to communicate via a radio frequency interface 30. Thetransceiver 3 includes a modulator 8 for modulating signals receivedfrom the controller 4 and a transmitter 6, which presents the modulatedsignals to the antenna 28. The transceiver 3 also includes a receiver 12which processes signals received at the antenna 28 and provides them toa demodulator 10 which provides demodulated signals to the controller 4.The terminal 2 has a RAM memory 16 which is connected to the controller4 via a bus. The terminal also has a SIM memory 22 connected to thecontroller 4 which provides information allowing the terminal 2 tofunction as a mobile phone. When functioning as a mobile phone, theterminal 2 transmits and receives radio frequency signals via theantenna 28.

The terminal 2 is connected to an interface 42 of an accessory device 40via the interface 34. The connection 36 between the interface 34 andinterface 42 may be achieved in a number of ways. For example radiowaves could be used. One suitable radio communication protocol is thewireless applications protocol (WAP) described in “WAP ArchitectureVersion 30 Apr. 1998”. This requires the interface 34 to comprise a WAPstack and a radio transceiver and the interface 42 to likewise comprisea WAP stack and radio transceiver. Another suitable protocol is theBluetooth protocol described in co-pending UK Patent Application No9820859.8, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference,which requires the interface 34 and interface 42 to include low power RFtransceivers.

Although a single accessory device 40 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, theterminal 2 could make simultaneous connection with a plurality of suchaccessory devices. Although the transceiver 4/antenna 28 and theinterface 34 are shown separately, they may be integrated.

The fundamental functions of the terminal 2 are provided by thecombination of the controller 4 and the memory 16. The accessory device40 may be accessed by the controller 4 via the bus 32 and interface 34and thus enhance the functionality of the terminal 2.

The terminal 2 has a number of fundamental capabilities including systemcapabilities relating to its radio communication abilities (whether itinvolves the WAP, Bluetooth, GSM, AMPS or other communication protocols)and other capabilities which allow the terminal to provide the featuresof a database, a personal organizer, a word processor or a web browser.The fundamental capabilities are integrated together in a coherent wayto provide the terminal's features.

FIG. 3 illustrates an Internet network 50 and a wireless network 60. TheInternet network comprises a web server 52 and a plurality of Internetstations 54, which are clients to the web server 52. The Internetnetwork uses World Wide Web (WWW) protocols. The wireless network 60includes a plurality of wireless terminals 64, each of which can accessthe web server 52 via a protocol gateway 62. These terminals arepreferably hand-portable radio handsets 2. Communication between awireless terminal 64 and the protocol gateway 62 is according to theWireless Application Protocol (WAP). WAP specifies an applicationframework and network protocols for wireless terminals such as mobiletelephones, pagers and personal digital assistants. WAP brings Internetcontent and advanced data services to wireless terminals. WAP can workacross differing wireless network technologies and bearer types (GSM,CDMA, SMS). Communication between the web server 52 and protocol gateway62 is according to WWW protocols.

The wireless terminal differs from the Internet station in thatgenerally it has a less powerful CPU, less memory, restricted powerconsumption, smaller displays and more limited input devices. Thewireless network differs from the Internet network in that generally ithas less bandwidth, more latency, less connection stability and lesspredictable availability. The WAP architecture is optimized for narrowbandwidth bearers with potentially high latency and is optimized forefficient use of device resources.

Each device in a network is capable of sending and receiving packets ofinformation. A device may according to context be a server or a client,and while a server may service a number of clients while being a clientto another server. Devices include the web server 52, the Internetstations 54, the wireless terminals 64 and the protocol gateway 62. Awireless terminal 64 acts as client and initiates a request for aconnection with an origin server, the web server 52, to access aresource. The resource, identified by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator),is data (content) stored or generated at an origin server 52. Thecontent is typically displayed or interpreted by the client. Theprotocol gateway translates requests from the WAP protocol stack used bythe wireless terminal 64 to the WWW (World Wide Web) protocol stack usedby the web server. The web server either returns WAP content such as WML(Wireless Markup Language) or WWW content such as HTML (HyperText MarkupLanguage). In the later case a filter is used to translate the WWWcontent to WAP content e.g. HTML to WML. The protocol gateway alsoencodes content sent over the wireless network to the wireless terminaland decodes data sent to it by the wireless terminal.

WAP defines a set of standard protocols that enable communicationbetween mobile terminals and network servers. WAP uses a standard namingmodel according to which standard Internet URLs are used to identifycontent on origin servers. It also uses content typing. All WAP contentis given a specific type consistent with WWW typing which allows awireless terminal to correctly process the content based on type. WAPalso uses standard content formats and standard communication protocols.

A Wireless Application Environment which forms a upper layer of the WAPstack includes a microbrowser. The browser uses wireless markup language(WML) and a lightweight markup language, WMLScript a lightweightscripting language.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a terminal 2, which is communicatingwith a protocol gateway 62 and thence with a web server 52. The Figureillustrates the antenna 28, transceiver 3, display 14, speaker 18,keyboard 24, microphone 20 and interface 34 previously illustrated inFIG. 2. The Figure additionally illustrates browser application 70 andits routing table 72, ringtone application 76, email application 78 andbus 74. The applications are typically separate tasks of the controller4. The accessory device 40 illustratively comprises a cameraapplication.

The antenna 28 which communicates with the protocol gateway 62 is inbi-directional communication with the transceiver 3, which in turn is inbi-directional communication with the browser 70. The browser is inbi-directional communication with its routing table 72 and the bus 74.The bus 74 provides inputs to the output devices (the speaker 18 anddisplay 14) and receives inputs from the input devices (the microphone20 and keyboard 24). The bus is also in communication with the interface34 and the applications 76 and 78.

Typically a user controls the browser 70 through the input devices 20and 24. A desired resource is identified using a URL. The browsercontrols the transceiver 3 to request access to the resource. Theterminal 2 thus communicates with the protocol gateway 62 which in turncommunicates with the web server 52. The WAP content returned to thetransceiver 3 in response to the request is supplied to the browser 70.The final destination of the received content will however depend uponthe content type of the received content. The content type is anindicator which is dependent upon the type of application for which itis intended. For example a browser application may be able to use,display or interpret a variety of content types but be unable to use avariety of other different content types. Likewise the email application78 and the ringtone application 76 will be designed to receive contentof a specific types. The routing table 72 registers applications whichare usable by the terminal. On registering an application, the routingtable associates with the address of the application, the content typeor types that the application can process. A typical routing table 72 isillustrated in FIG. 5.

The browser application 70 identifies the content type of the receivedcontent and accesses the routing table 72. The routing table returns theaddress of the registered application associated with the receivedcontent type and the browser transfers the received content to thataddress. If there is no registered application associated with thereceived content type, a null address is returned to the browser whichsends an error message to the display 14.

In this way the terminal 2 has the browser functionality and in additionthe functionality of additional applications.

Whereas the applications 76 and 78 are integrated within the terminal 2,the application associated with the accessory device, in this case acamera application is not integrated within the terminal 2 but isremote. The accessory device may be replaced to change and/or enhancethe functionality of the terminal, or it may be removed.

It is necessary to keep the routing table 72 up to date. Consequentlywhen a new device is coupled to the interface 34, the application orapplications in the device must be registered by making entries in therouting table and when a device is removed from communication with theinterface 34, the application or applications in the device must bede-registered by deleting entries in the routing table.

In a preferred embodiment, the interface 34 has its own address and therouting table 72 associates this address with the content type for theapplication (or applications) in the accessory device to which theinterface 34 communicates. When an accessory device first couples withthe interface 34, it provides the content type for its application(s) tothe interface. The interface in turn supplies this data to the routingtable, where it is stored in association with the interface's address.Thus the application(s) in the accessory device are registered. When theaccessory device is removed and de-couples from the interface, theinterface supplies this information to the routing table where thecontent type entry (entries) associated with the interface address is(are) deleted. Thus the application(s) in the accessory device arede-registered.

One method of detecting the coupling or de-coupling of an accessorydevice with the interface is to poll the interface 34 at regularintervals to detect if there is a device communicating therewith and toidentify such a device. Another method of detecting the presence orremoval of a device is for the accessory device to announce to theterminal the start and end of the period during which it communicateswith the terminal (i.e. announces coupling and de-couplingrespectively).

Although the architecture in FIG. 4 has been illustrated by means of abus, it would be possible to use other architectures such as thatdescribed in UK Patent Application 9903262.5.

The system illustrated in FIG. 4 therefore allows an application in anaccessory device to register and de-register automatically with thebrowser. There is no manual registration, although the option toregister an application may be given by displaying a choice on thedisplay 14 and allowing user to accept or decline registration byselection of one of the choices using the keypad 24 or other inputdevice. The browser can then automatically route received content to theappropriate application without the need to perform manual registrationsas is currently required in Microsoft Windows 95 (Trademark). Thuslaborious manual input through the small keypad 24 is not needed and thefunctionality of the terminal 2 with browser 70 is increased.

The present invention may include any novel feature or combination offeatures disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or anygeneralization thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to thepresently claimed invention or mitigates any or all of the problemsaddressed. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to aperson skilled in the art that various modifications may be made withinthe scope of the invention.

1. A radio handset for browsing the Internet comprising: a browserapplication which provides a user of the handset access to the Internetvia a first transceiver which sends radio packets to and receives radiopackets from an Internet gateway; a router arranged to route contentsupplied by the Internet gateway via the first transceiver to aregistered application, the content having an identifier whichidentifies the type of application suitable for receiving the contentand arranged to register applications by associating an application onregistration with at least one identifier; a user interface connected tothe browser application having a display for displaying content and auser input; and an interface having a radio transceiver for couplingwith an interface of an accessory device comprising a remoteapplication, the interface being arranged to receive content routed tothe remote application and to thereby increase the functionality of thehandset, wherein the remote application is automatically registered bythe router in response to the coupling of the handset and accessorydevice.
 2. A handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein transmission from andto the transceiver is in accordance with the WAP protocol.
 3. A handsetas claimed in claim 1 wherein the first transceiver and the radiotransceiver are separate.
 4. A handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein theradio transceiver communicates with the accessory device using low powerradio frequency signals.
 5. A handset as claimed in claim 4 wherein theradio transceiver transmits and receives signals according to theBluetooth standard.
 6. A handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein therouter and the browser application are integrated.
 7. A handset asclaimed in claim 1 wherein a processor including a memory which executesthe browser application.
 8. A handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein therouter comprises a look-up table associating application addresses withan identifier or identifiers.
 9. A handset as claimed in claim 8 whereinregistration of an application comprises entry OT the application'saddress and an associated identifier or identifiers in the routingtable.
 10. A handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the identifier forthe content comprises the content type.
 11. A handset as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the router de-registers applications by disassociatingthe application with an associated at least one identifier.
 12. Ahandset as claimed in claim 11 wherein de-registration occurs inresponse to removal of an application from the handset and/or inresponse to de-coupling of the handset and accessory device.
 13. Ahandset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the browser application is aregistered application.
 14. A system comprising a radio handset forbrowsing the Internet and downloading content therefrom and an accessorydevice for increasing functionality of the radio handset in response tothe content, the handset comprising: a browser application whichprovides a user of the handset access to the Internet via a firsttransceiver which sends radio packets to and receives radio packets froman Internet gateway; a router arranged to route content supplied by theInternet gateway via the first transceiver to a registered application,the content having an identifier for identifying the type of applicationsuitable for receiving the content and arranged to register applicationsby associating an application on registration with at least oneidentifier; a user interface connected to the browser application havinga screen for displaying content and a user input; and an interfacehaving a radio transceiver for coupling with an interface of anaccessory device having a remote application, the interface receivingcontent routed to the remote application and to thereby increase thefunctionality of the handset; and wherein the remote application isautomatically registered by the router in response to the coupling ofthe handset and accessory device.
 15. A radio handset for browsing theInternet comprising: a browser application which allows a user of thehandset to access the Internet via a first transceiver means arranged tosend radio packets to and receive radio packets from an Internetgateway; routing means arranged to route content supplied by theinternet gateway via the first transceiver means to a registeredapplication, the content having an identifier for identifying the typeof application suitable for receiving the content and arranged toregister applications by associating an application on registration withat least one identifier; a user interface connected to the browserapplication having a display for displaying content and user inputmeans; and an interface having a radio transceiver for coupling with aninterface of an accessory device comprising a remote application, theinterface being arranged to receive content routed to the remoteapplication and to thereby increase the functionality of the handset,wherein the remote application is automatically registered by therouting means in response to the coupling of the handset and accessorydevice.
 16. A handset as claimed in claim 15 wherein transmission fromand to the transceiver is in accordance with the WAP protocol.
 17. Ahandset as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first transceiver means andthe radio transceiver are separate.
 18. A handset as claimed in claim 15wherein the radio transceiver is arranged to communicate with theaccessory device using low power radio frequency signals.
 19. A handsetas claimed in claim 18 wherein the radio transceiver transmits andreceives signals according to the Bluetooth standard.
 20. A handset asclaimed in claim 15 wherein the routing means and the browserapplication are integrated.
 21. A handset as claimed in claim 15 whereina processor means including memory performs the functions of the browserapplication.
 22. A handset as claimed in claim 15 wherein the routingmeans comprises a look-up table associating application addresses withan identifier or identifiers.
 23. A handset as claimed in claim 22wherein registration of an application comprises entry of theapplication's address and its associated identifier or identifiers inthe routing table.
 24. A handset as claimed in claim 15 wherein theidentifier for the content comprises the content type.
 25. A handset asclaimed in claim 15 wherein the routing means is arranged to de-registerregistered applications by disassociating the application with itsassociated at least one identifier.
 26. A handset as claimed in claim 25wherein de-registration occurs in response to removal of an applicationfrom the handset and/or in response to the de-coupling of the handsetand accessory device.
 27. A handset as claimed in claim 15 wherein thebrowser application is a registered application.
 28. A system comprisinga radio handset for browsing the Internet and downloading contenttherefrom and an accessory device for increasing the functionality ofthe radio handset in response to said content, the handset comprising: abrowser application which allows a user of the handset to access theInternet via first transceiver means arranged to send radio packets toand receive radio packets from an Internet gateway; routing meansarranged to route content supplied by the Internet gateway via the firsttransceiver means to a registered application, the content having anidentifier for identifying the type of application suitable forreceiving the content and arranged to register applications byassociating an application on registration with at least one identifier;a user interface connected to the browser application having a screenfor displaying content and user input means; an interface having a radiotransceiver for coupling with an interface of an accessory device havinga remote application, the interface being arranged to receive contentrouted to the remote application and to thereby increase thefunctionality of the handset, and wherein the remote application isautomatically registered by the routing means in response to thecoupling of the handset and accessory device.